Manila Bulletin
Philippines
National
SWS survey showing more Filipinos going hungry justifies need for food stamp program — DSWD spox
Philippines
National
SWS survey showing more Filipinos going hungry justifies need for food stamp program — DSWD spox
SWS survey showing more Filipinos going hungry justifies need for food stamp program — DSWD spox
Published Aug 04, 2023 05:23 am
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Updated Aug 04, 2023 05:23 am
The results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing more Filipinos are suffering from involuntary hunger is a validation of the national government’s Food Stamp Program (FSP), which was launched last month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Friday, Aug. 4.
The 2nd Quarter 2023 SWS survey found that 10.4 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger in June, up from 9.8 percent in March.
It defines involuntary hunger as being hungry and not having anything to eat.
“The SWS findings that more Filipinos suffer from involuntary hunger during the 2nd quarter is a validation that the Marcos administration is on the right track in implementing the Food Stamp Program, with the DSWD as lead agency,” Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said.
“The DSWD hopes that through the Food Stamp Program, the country will be able to combat hunger and achieve food security towards the realization of a zero hunger Philippines,” he added.
The FSP is a DSWD flagship program that aims to provide food augmentation to one million families experiencing involuntary hunger due to extreme poverty.
“It involves providing cash-based assistance in the form of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that will be loaded with a specific cash amount for purchasing a select list of commodities from registered local retailers. This aims to empower the poor to let them choose what food they want to eat based on the list provided by DSWD,” Lopez said.
He emphasized that the tap cards will not be loaded with cash, but they will be loaded with “food credits” in accordance with the Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s dietary recommendations.
Fifty percent of food credits will be allocated to carbohydrate-rich foods like rice and bread (P1,500), 30 percent for proteins like chicken or pork (P900), and 20 percent for vegetables, fruits, oil, salt, and condiments (P600).
Its pilot implementation will run from July to December 20023 in certain areas of Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Bicol Region, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
It will initially benefit 3,000 low-income families identified through Listahanan 3—a standardized poor household targeting system.
“The target beneficiaries are those families whose income does not go beyond P8,000 a month,” Lopez said.
“The program will also be conditional and have a work component. This means that those who will sign up would be required to seek employment in order to continue receiving the FSP benefits,” he added.